TAVIRA

Preserved city

D. Paio Peres Correia, Master of Santiago Order, conquered the city in 1242, but the Islamic populations have remained here, in the first quarter to be built outside the city walls, namely in Rua dos Mouros and Rua Detraz dos Mouros. Later on, Tavira would have a close relation to Portuguese fortified squares in Morocco. D. João II has even temporarily transferred the Royal court to Tavira, in 1489. Tavira’s golden era lasted from the 15th to the following century, stimulated by intense trade relations with North Africa and Flemish commercial centres. Several goods and food products filled Rossio square (nowadays, Republic Square), the place of every transaction. Soon the city surpassed its walls and suburbia emerged in both sides of Gilão river. The river mouth lies here and this river flows through the city. It has a Medieval bridge, which is now a pedestrian area. But there are more bridges both upstream and downstream. Some call it the city of bridges. To others this is the city of churches. Tavira is proud to have had over 60 churches. Nowadays it has less than half that number. However, if you want to visit one of the best Portuguese examples of hall-churches, quite rare in Portugal, you have to travel 2km west to Luz de Tavira. Tavira island, former Arraial Ferreira Neto, living memory of tuna fishing in these coasts, along with Santa Luzia, the so-called “octopus capital” and Barril beach are some of the additional reasons to visit this city of Sotavento region in the Algarve.